We have just studied the changed family patterns and the reasons behind them. One of the significant changes seen in the modern families is its size. The reason behind this radical change can be attributed to: education of women, late marriages, economic freedom of women, aspiration for higher materialistic standard of living, etc.
The effect of family size on individual members of family is also equally important.
(a) The numbers of children are less. Therefore, parents are able to pay more attention to them and their needs. Modern parents are comparatively more worried about their children regarding what they eat, what they wear, where they play and when they sleep, etc.
(b) The parents are more conscious of their children’s health. Not only they care seriously about various preventive vaccines, but also their general health, weight, height etc.
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(c) Due to less number of children, the overall economic burden on parents is less. Toay the cost of living is higher than before. Raising and upbringing of a child is becoming so expensive that only with lesser number of children in the family; the parents can give them good them facilities, amenities, happiness in the life that is satisfactory to them also.
(d) The education, particularly the higher education is very expensive and middle class parents can hardly afford it for their children. A good education is necessary to ensure a bright future of their children. It is possible only when the family size is small.
(e) Today the society has become very materialistic and status of family is judged not by its moral and social values but by the materialistic standard of living. With the smaller family size, higher standard of living is easier to maintain.
(f) Last but not the least; smaller family size has been a boon for the women of the family. Repeatedly bearing children used to affect their health to a poor state. Today the mother’s health status is much better than it was before. This also leaves an impact on the form of better-managed families.